Viscaria Copper-Iron mine

The Project involves the reopening of the Viscaria copper and magnetite mine located 3 km outside Kiruna in Northern Sweden. The project is considered a brownfield site because the mine was operational between 1982 and 1997. The project will involve mainly underground mining via standard long hole open stoping and paste backfill. Some open pit mining will take place to extract rock for site foundations and the Tailings Storage Facility, with minimal ore to be extracted for processing. The project includes the construction of a conventional processing plant to produce copper concentrate and magnetite concentrate, as well as other site-related facilities (including a 1,000 m³/hr Water Treatment Plant). The project will utilise existing infrastructure such as a portion of the underground workings, roads, power lines and the Malmbanan railway near the site.

The project has received approval of its Environmental Impact Assessment and necessary permits for commencing the construction phase from the relevant authorities.

The project’s scope and potential environmental impact imply Category A according to NIB’s Environmental, Social and Governance Guidelines for Lending.

NIB will conduct an environmental review of the project and its counterparty during the public consultation period, including a site visit. NIB welcomes comments on the project in question.

Link to the permits and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA): https://www.viscaria.com/sv/tillstandsportal/

NIB contact information: Please send your comments to info@nib.int with “Category A project” in the subject field.